Google ‘to rival iTunes with new music service’ after piracy search changes

Google is expected to expand its own music service to rival Apple’s iTunes after it announced a host of changes to its search results.

Google Music will challenge Apple’s iTunes service (Picture: PA)

The internet search giant has revealed that websites hosting unlicensed songs and films will be relegated in search results from Monday.Google has been the subject of complaints for a number of years from the entertainment industry for failing to clamp down on filesharing sites such as Pirate Bay and Megaupload through search results.This has led to the internet giant struggling to negotiate deals with the music industry to licence its own music service, which has resulted in iTunes gaining popularity.Geoff Taylor, chief executive of the British Recorded Music Industry (BPI), which represents the four major music groups in the UK, backed the decision, before adding: ‘It makes us feel that Google is a little bit more on our side. It’s helpful background music to these [Google Music] discussions, certainly.’

Improvements in the relationship between the industry and Google could see its music service grow dramatically in coming months and years.

In a week of announcements for Google, it has also revealed it is to buy travel guide brand Frommer as it ramps up its desire to be the number one destination for local reviews and listings online.